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Neil Carragher

Drug Discovery

Professor Neil Carragher - Professor of Drug Discovery

Research in a Nutshell

The Edinburgh Drug Discovery group embraces advanced technology platforms and disease models, which drive innovations in oncology drug discovery and development. Our group is highly proficient in image-based phenotypic screening working in close collaboration with several pharmaceutical industry partners and academic groups to identify hit molecules, advance small-molecule lead generation and classify compound mechanism of action (MOA). Our laboratories are equipped with the latest kinetic (IncuCyte Zoom®) and high-content (ImageXpress-micoXLS) screening platforms, fully integrated with plate-handling robotics, barcode sample tracking and image analysis/informatics workflows. We are founding members of the European Cell-Based Assay Interest group (http://www.eucai.org), and together with the Universities of Oxford and Dundee, we are the third major academic hub for the National Phenotypic Screening Centre (http://npsc.ac.uk/). We also incorporate Reverse Phase Protein Array (RPPA) analysis to support biomarker discovery and drug MOA studies at the post-translational pathway level.

The overarching aims of our group are to enhance clinical predictivity of preclinical oncology drug discovery and improve patient stratification and efficacy, by applying an evidence-led translational research platform, incorporating disease relevant models, innovative chemical design, quantitative imaging and genomic/proteomic-discovery-informatics. To achieve these goals we work in close collaboration with local clinicians, multidisciplinary academic research groups and industry partners.

The University of Edinburgh

The University of Edinburgh is a charitable body, registered in Scotland, with registration number
SC005336, VAT Registration Number GB 592 9507 00, and is acknowledged by the UK authorities as a
“Recognised body” which has been
granted degree awarding powers.